Process for cleaning dephlegmators



May 5, 1931. L. c. HUFF 1,803,969

PROCESS FOR CLEANING DEPHLEGMATORS Original Filed Oct. 18 1923 J5: W572 "607'; (17711071 Cilia/f,

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i 'atented May 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LY'MJLN C. RUFF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A SSIGNOR T UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS COM-'- IANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PROCESS FOR. CLEANING DEPHLEGMATORS Original application filed. October 18, 1923, Serial No. 669,251. Divided and this application filed April 1825. Serial No. 22,559.

a divisional of an ap- This application is Serial No. 669,251 filed I lication filed by me, etober 18th, 1923. This invention relates to a process for a treating oils, and refers more particularly to the removal of solids or substantial solids from the interior of a dephlegmator, expansion chamber or still.

In the cracking of hydrocarbon oils, it has 1 been found that retarding of the speed with which the vapors and oil flow, aids materially in the reaction of the material treated.

One of the mechanical means now in use is a dephlegmator provided with a series of pans arranged one above the other in alterfashion. In other words, the outer nate edge of the top pan will overlap the circular edge of the pan next below so that the overflow will fall from the top to the next, etc. This arrangement can be carried out throughout the height of the dephlegmator.

Heretofore, at the end of every few runs, it has been necessary to remove the top of the dephlegmator and take out the pans for cleaning and removing any carbon, sand, salt or other foreign solid or substantially solid materials.

l have discovered that after the run is completed, by the introduction of steam, benzol, or some such suitable solvent, these pans can be cleaned without removing them from the chamber. This is accomplished by positioning a vertical feed pipe in the chamber,-

which terminates just above the lowest pan. The opposite end of this pipe may be located outside and above the top and connected with the source of supply for the cleaning agent. Small discharge pipes of varyin length to correspond with the position 0 the pans, are interposed in this vertical feed pipe just above each pan. The whole can be rotated to an angle of substantially 360 by means of a hand wheel attached to the vertical pipe.

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of a dephlegmator equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional detail showing the arrangement of the vertical feed pipe and the outlets to the pans.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates a vertical vdephlegmator for use in the cracking of hydrocarbon oils. This dephlegmator is of the usual type, having rounded top cap portion 2, which can be removed if necessary, and rounded bottom por perature controlling or cooling mediums.

Vapors may be drawn off through vapor outlet pipe 8. In the interior of the dephlegmator are positioned a plurality of small and large imperforate pans 9 and 10 of different diameters. The pans are held in place by vertical stay rods (not shown) in the usual manner.

Referring now to the feature of the invention, I provide a vertical feed pipe 11 extending substantially down the center of the dephlegmator, which may terminate just above the lowest pan, as shown at 12. The upper extremity of this vertical pipe 11 terminates in a swivel 13. The extension 14: beyond the swivel 13 is connected to the source of cleaning agent supply, such as steam, hydrocarbon distillate, benzol, etc. A valve 15 is interposed in the upper portion of the pipe for regulating the amount and pressure of the cleaning material.

Connected to the pipe 11 and located above each pan are a plurality of small outlet pipes 16 and 17 of varying lengths, which may be screw-threaded or welded into the pipe 11 as shown at 18 to facilitate their easy removal. The arrangement is such that a smaller pipe 16 will be directly above the pan 9 stuffing gland 20 may be provided adjacent if the hand wheel 19. It will be noted that the cool. Deposited on the pans there will be I a certain amount of earthy matter, carbon into the pipe 11, the valve 15 being open. The steam will be sprayed onto the surface of the pans through the outlet pipes 16 and 17, and the earthy matter deposited thereon quickly and easily removed. By rotating the hand wheel 19 through an arc of slightly less 7 than 360 and backagain, the steam is forced onto the entire surface of the pans, thoroughly cleanin them and removing the foreign matter. if a gaseous or vaporous cleaning agent is employed, the same may be removed through vapor outlet 8 or, if the valve therein has been closed, through outlet 4. The residual deposits will of course be removed through outlet 4 as will the liquid cleaning agent, if such is employed.

I have illustrated my invention using steam as the cleaning agent, but it is obvious as pointed out, that other cleaning agents can be used.

I claim as my invention:

each separate pan under pressure, causing said streams to contact wit each pan in the dephlegmating column, and withdrawing the cleansing fluid and removed residual deposits from the dephlegmatin column.

L. N C.

i use ice 1. A process for removing solid and semisolid residual-like accumulations from the vertically spaced pans of a dephlegmating column employed in the distillation of hydrocarbon oil, consisting in discharging an in dependent stream of cleansing fluid under pressue into each separate pan, in changing the point of contact of said streams with said pans during operation, to thereby cause said streams to contact with substantially the entire area of said pans, and in withdrawing the cleansing agent and removed residual deposits from the dephlegmating column.

2. A method for removing the residual accumulations of an oil cracking process from the vertically spaced bafiling pans of a dephlegmating column used in an oil crackin process, consisting in dischar in an in ependent stream of a cleansing uif into each pan in the dephlegmating column, in changing the point of contact of the streams of cleansin eration, to firing the cleansing fluid into con-- tact with substantially the entire area of each an, to dissolve the residual accumulations 111 and flush the same from the pans, and in withdrawing the cleansing fluid and removed residual accumulations from the dephlegmating column.

3. A process for removing solid and semisolid residual-like accumulations from the I vertically spaced pans of a dephlegmatin'g Y column employed in the distillation of the hydrocarbon oil, comprising discharging an independent stream of a cleansing fluid into fluid with the pans during op-' 

